ESCONDIDO: Mayoral candidates clash on ballpark, pension reform, jobs

Forum draws nearly 100 people

A Wednesday morning forum for Escondido mayoral candidates
featured clashes over a minor league ballpark proposed for the
city, reforming public employee pensions, attracting better jobs to
the city, how mayors should govern, and trimming the city
budget.

Nearly 100 people attended the two-hour election forum, which
was sponsored by the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and held at the
Escondido Country Club.

Councilman Dick Daniels said he ardently supports the ballpark
because it would attract enormous economic development to Escondido
and help transform an aging industrial area into a district of
shops and restaurants.

But the other three candidates ---- Councilman Sam Abed, former
Councilman Tom D'Agosta and casino dealer Joe Bologna ---- said
they had problems with city plans to spend $50 million in
redevelopment money on the ballpark, with no guaranteed return on
investment.

Bologna said he's spoken to several experts on baseball finances
who don't think a Padres Triple-A team would succeed in
Escondido.

D'Agosta said the city is moving too quickly on the ballpark and
should consider locating it near downtown instead of an industrial
area a few blocks to the north. He also said city officials need to
demand specific revenue projections.

"They have to show us how we're going to make money," D'Agosta
said.

Abed said the deal must include a commitment to collateral
development from the Padres owner and a cap on ballpark
construction costs, explaining that a similar ballpark in Lake
Elsinore cost more than three times the initial proposals.

On pension reform, Abed criticized his opponents for being less
aggressive than him about reducing benefits for new employees.

He said his eagerness to make changes had prompted the city's
police union to endorse Daniels and the city's firefighters union
to endorse D'Agosta.

"I am not endorsed by the unions because I am leading the charge
on pension reform," Abed said.

But leaders of the two unions have said pension reform did not
play a significant role in their endorsement decisions.

Abed said D'Agosta was on the council when more generous
benefits were approved early last decade, and he said Daniels wants
to move too slowly.

D'Agosta and Daniels said they support lower benefits for new
employees. But Daniels said such changes won't help the city
financially for three to five years. D'Agosta said the firefighters
union has promised him it'll cooperate on changes.

Bologna said city residents should be allowed to vote on any
pension changes.

On attracting better jobs, Abed said the key would be rezoning
and clearing land for technology business parks and other high-end
employers. Daniels said he would act as an ambassador and make
businesses aware of opportunities in Escondido.

D'Agosta said "an even playing field" would be crucial,
complaining that the city has been too generous with incentives for
some developers while others face hassles and hurdles. Bologna
suggested a combination of incentives and looser restrictions.

Daniels and Abed said the mayor's role was about building
consensus and acting as an ambassador.

Abed said his strong working relationship with Councilwoman Olga
Diaz, who many view as the council's only outsider, shows he'd be a
better consensus builder. But Daniels said his history of uniting
disparate groups shows he'd be a better ambassador.

"I'll pull everyone together," Daniels said.

D'Agosta said the new mayor must do a better job keeping the
entire council informed. He complained that Mayor Lori Holt
Pfeiler, who will leave the mayor's post after 12 years this
December, keeps other council members "out of the loop." Pfeiler
has decided to run for a City Council seat this fall.

On trimming the city budget, Abed suggested cutting recreation
programs and middle management positions, while D'Agosta suggested
reducing the number of top managers and their pay. Daniels said he
was optimistic no more cuts would be necessary, but he said any new
cuts would have to focus on recreation and libraries in order to
preserve police and fire jobs.